"Without Our Traditions..."

"Our lives would be as shaky as... As a Fiddler on the Roof!" bum, bum, bum. Boom, Boom. The music still echoes through my head. And it will still. for years. but I'm okay with that. :)

Getting ready for Fruma-Sarah to come back from the grave

Being goofy :P

Elizabeth!!!!

Abby-Doodle and I

It would have been scandalous for a Russian Jewish girl to even look at a Catholic priest, much less wear his hat. But, as you can see, I am a very scandalous daughter.

My and Katherine's pre-show dance... another one of my favorite traditions

Our devotion committee praying before devotions one evening... this was one of my favorite parts of the entire day.

Crew and Libby

Brye... and a random penguin found sitting on a stool

The tv in the makeup room

Our amazing bottledancers

6 perfect shows... never dropping a bottle

My family :)

Full cast, crew and staff. If we had been missing a single person, none of this would have been possible. (And Breilen's sign reads "Peter Sinko..." Peter was really, really sick and so had to be represented in that way. :) )

Have You Been Waiting?

Have you been sitting on the edge of your seat, waiting for news about Fiddler? I know, I've been a little lax in posting about it.

I think it's because the experience was, in general, so awe-inspiring, Christ honoring and just plain amazing, that I haven't been able to put it to words. I'll definitely keep trying- because I want a written record of the beauty that was Fiddler.

And pictures! You knew I'd have some. :) These are my cast party pictures, when we were all try to stay calm and know that we really would see each other again.

Katherine and I, with a Frisbee game in the background

Montanna and I- isn't her haircut adorable?!?

Annalise

Abby-Doodle and Anna and I ... they are some of my dearest, closest friends.

Naomi was a daughter with me, and we had so much fun together.

Mrs. M.- Whitney- and I. She was one of our choreographers and she did an amazing job.

With Whitney's younger sister, Brye

Our devotion Committee, minus Asia. These people were my prayer warriors, my partners and my friends. Yeah, I miss them.

Standing in the shadows of the cross

I'll put my other pictures in order soon.

Joy is...

Joy is an intensive, good practice even after this.

Joy is walking and talking with her during our breaks.

Joy is the beautiful plants in bloom.

Joy is seeing three dear friends at Pizza Hut.

Joy is banana chocolate chip muffins, fresh from the oven.

Joy is having watched all five since 8:30, and having it be a good day.

Joy is getting to see EJ, Josh, Jenna, Elizabeth, Breanne and Brooklyn in Beauty and the Beast tonight.

Joy is also getting to see Veronica, Anna, Katherine and Annie tonight.

Joy is the knowledge that Jesus has provided for our needs already, we just have to wait and see what He has planned.

At this moment, what is joy to you?

The Desires of Your Heart

See this girl?

This is Anna- one of my closest friends. Ever since our beloved HPA announced that they were doing Fiddler, we wanted to be in it together. And when she was cast as a momma and I as a daughter, we mapped out the perfect family in our heads. It might have included each other. :)

But I have learned that "awesome in your head" plans don't usually come around. In fact, it's very rare that my super ideas "come true."

I'm a dreamer. and I'm okay with that.

I was in FL when Mr. G assigned everyone their families. Families were strange this year, I think the directors tried to mix us up because there aren't many friends together. True, Anna only had two sons- and no daughters- but I was pretty sure that we wouldn't end up together. and I started preparing my heart for that. 

Two weeks went by. I jumped with two eager feet back into HPA life. All through practices and choreography Anna and I pretended to be family- but we knew it wouldn't last. Soon I would be assigned a family and our dreaming would over. I was assured at every practice that Mr. G "had a family for me, he just couldn't remember who it was right now."

Until last Thursday. He called for us to get in our family group and sent me to Mrs. P to find my family. I stood there as she searched, wondering if I should suggest, but knowing that she would probably turn it down. I was slightly anxious, but content. 

She finally found the paper and I resisted the urge to find my name. "Okay, Lindsey... let's see. You're with Chase and Anna."

I think my heart momentarily stopped. 

I lifted my head, eyes full of shock. "Really, Mrs. P? Really?" She grew confused, "Yesssss..."

I spun around, found Anna's eyes. I nodded. Stepped closer. Murmured out "For reals." (not really sure where that one came from. :P)

All of a sudden, we were jumping up and down and squealing and doing our hyper routine from the days of AGYG. I don't think I stopped smiling the whole day long.

Texting her on my way home, I thought of Psalm 37:4

Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

 And as I'm sitting here, He brought to my mind Matthew 7:11 as well.

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

I feel so blessed to have received such an amazing gift. It was something I dreamed, plotted, schemed, but I didn't really think that anything would really happen. It brings to mind one more verse.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

 :)

{And on another note, it's kinda her birthday today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMA!!! I love you so much. I have been so blessed by your sweet spirit, your caring words and your prayers. So many memories... remember the sprees? and hyper mode? and the best weekend sleepover? You are one of the most amazing friends. ever. period. I hope you have a wonderful 17th, tell Davis to make it extra special, k? And remember, your parents will be home soon. You can make it. only 5 days left. I LOVE YOU!!!!}

Blessed

I really am blessed.

I have friends who are truly amazing. I love them so much and what's more is that they love me.

They love me. I'm far from perfect. I definitely have my faults. I don't always answer emails on time. I sometimes leave them when they need me. I don't give them what they need. But still,

They love me.

Katherine and I

These are the friends who encourage me when I am down in the depths of despair.

Jeremy and I. He's the best "big brother" ever.

These are the friends who I can trust with my whole heart.

Lidia and I

These are the friends who lift me up in prayer and who are always positive and ready to tell me that Jesus is good.

Veronica and I

These are the friends I can get really hyper with. They've seen me at 2 in the morning and they still like me.

Anna and I

These are the friends who know that I wish I was there so they send me pictures.

 

These are the friends that hold me when I cry and recite scripture to me until I'm okay again.

She's engaged!!! So happy for her and her prince!!! (Miss Elizabeth and I)

These are the friends that come running down the road and jump into my arms when they haven't seen me in two whole weeks.

Katherine and I again. :)

These are the friends who share my love of photography.

These are the friends who share big family jokes with me,

Naomi and I

 and who brighten my day with their sweetness,

Genevieve and I

 These are the friends whose purpose in life is to give God all the glory.

Yes, I may not be perfect. Yes, I'm only 14. Yes, I have faults. But yes, Jesus is good. Yes, this is only a small portion of my friends. Yes, they are the best friends in the whole world. Yes, I know that Jesus is the Best Friend ever. Yes, these friends draw me so much closer to Him.

Yes, I am blessed.